Uncovering the Life Experiences Being Fathers of Children With Cerebral Palsy

Purpose: This research aims to uncover the life experiences of fathers of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Indonesia.

Design and methods: This study utilized a descriptive phenomenological approach. Nine fathers of young children and adolescents with CP were purposively recruited and were interviewed in-depth between June and August 2023. Data were analysed by using Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological approach.

Results: Our study identified three main themes: uncovering the meaning of being a father, expectations and hope for children's growing up, and the challenges of being a father. These themes were further divided into 10 sub-themes. Our research suggests that fathers consider having a disabled child as a gift and a test from God, and they hold specific meanings about being a father that gives them strength. Fathers are responsible for taking care of their children and not neglecting them. They have expectations and hopes for their children to become independent and successful, with the skills needed to make a living. Fathers face many challenges, such as dividing their time between work and family and figuring out how to stimulate their children's motor skills.

Practice implications: The research indicates that involving fathers in caring for children, particularly those with CP, has significant implications for program planning and service delivery. Therefore, professionals should integrate fathers' role in planning and delivering services for childcare.